A SEVERE weather warning for damaging winds on Monday has been issued for areas south and south-west of Stawell.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that a strong cold front will move over western Victoria on Monday morning to evening with northerly winds strengthening ahead of it.

A low pressure system is expected to move to the south of Victoria later on Monday resulting in a strong and gusty westerly flow over southern parts.

The Bureau issued a warning on Sunday morning for damaging winds, averaging 60 to 70 kilometres per hour with peak gusts of around 110 km/h, expected to develop about elevated parts of the western and central districts during the early hours of Monday morning.

Damaging winds, averaging 45 to 55 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are expected to develop about remaining parts of the warning area, including the Melbourne metropolitan area, from around sunrise on Monday.

Winds are expected to ease during the afternoon with the risk of damaging winds contracting to the southern coasts and the eastern ranges during the evening.